SHAFAQNA – The historical mosque of Sultan Wais in the Iraqi city of Mosul has targeted and demolished by the ISIL Takfiri militants, as the terrorist group steps up attacks against religious sites and figures.

The mosque which is one of the oldest historical buildings constructed in 1838 has reportedly exploded on Thursday on the pretext that it had been built on a graveyard.

Witnesses say that the ISIL militants have also evacuated 10 other mosques to detonate them by explosives.

This isn’t the first time that the extremist group has targeted a religious site in Iraq. Last December, they destroyed the Catholic Church of Virgin Mary in Mosul. In November 2014, they also demolished the historical St. George’s church and the holy shrine of Prophet Tunus in the ISIL-controlled city.

The Takfiri militants have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations and crucifixions, against all Syrian and Iraqi communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and Izadi Kurds.